Remote TV control system

ABSTRACT

A system and method for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network is disclosed. The presence of a viewer in front of the television is sensed, presence information is then transmitted to a cable broadcasting service center via the cable broadcasting network, a control signal is sent to the television adapted to receive same, and regular cable programming is suspended. The present invention allows the cable broadcasting company to provided additional services to the cable subscriber to retain and attract additional customers. These additional services may be tailored to the specific needs of the cable subscriber, thus a higher quality cable service is provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/362,003 filed Jul. 27, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,382.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling the operation of a television using a cable television network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cable television networks for broadcasting television programs are wide spread. More and more homes are being connected to these cable broadcasting networks to receive higher quality program reception and a multitude of additional channels. In addition to standard cable programming, a selection of programs are broadcasted on a pay-per-view basis in which the program is only broadcasted and received by the viewer if an additional fee has been paid to the cable television broadcaster.

Current cable broadcasting networks only output television programming signals to the television, and they do not have the capability of receiving input signals from the television or the television viewer. One disadvantage of watching movies broadcast by a cable television network is that if the viewer has to temporarily leave the room in which he is watching the movie there is no way to pause the broadcasting of the movie. For example, if the viewer gets a telephone call, wants to get something to eat, or has to visit the bathroom, he will do so at the sacrifice of missing the movie he is currently watching.

In contrast, videos and DVD disks played on a video cassette recorders and DVD players respectively, of course, may be paused or stopped momentarily by the movie viewer, allowing the viewer to break from watching the movie and get a snack or go to the bathroom without missing any of the movie. Current cable broadcasting companies do not provide the viewer with the option to suspend the current program and then restart the program at the point where it was paused.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an remote television control system and method which has the capability of changing the broadcasted signal in response to the viewers input. Furthermore, the remote television control system and method should have the additional capability to change the operation of the television.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for using a cable broadcasting network to control the operation of television at a cable subscriber's residence.

It is another object of the present invention to provide method and system for using a cable broadcasting network to control the operation of television based on the presence of a viewer at a cable subscriber's residence.

In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention provides a method and system for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network. The presence of a viewer in front of the television is sensed, presence information is then transmitted to a cable broadcasting service center via the cable broadcasting network, a control signal is sent to the television adapted to receive same, and regular cable programming is suspended. The present invention allows the cable broadcasting company to provided additional services to the cable subscriber to retain and attract more customers. These additional services may be tailored to the specific needs of the cable subscriber, thus a higher quality cable service is provided.

Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network, wherein the cable broadcasting network comprises at least one cable broadcasting service center in communication with a plurality of subscriber residences via a coaxial cable transmission system. The method includes sensing a presence of a person in a room, transmitting the presence information to a cable broadcaster service center, sending a control signal to a television adapted to receive same, and suspending regular cable programming in response to the control signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network, wherein the cable broadcasting network comprises at least one cable broadcasting service center in communication with a plurality of subscriber residences via a coaxial cable transmission system. The system includes a transducer for sensing the presence of a person in a room, a cable network for transmitting a control signal between a cable network service center and a cable subscriber residence, a control circuit for receiving the control signal sent by the cable network service center and for suspending regular programming.

The advantages accruing to the present invention are numerous. For example, the present invention allows a television to be operated by a cable broadcasting service center located remotely from a subscribers residence. The present invention provides customer feedback to the cable broadcasting center regarding the cable subscriber's needs. The cable broadcasting center fulfills the cable subscriber's needs by providing services which are tailorable to predetermined choices made by the cable subscriber.

The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a cable broadcasting service center, a cable television broadcasting network comprised of coaxial cable and a typical subscriber residence having at least one television for receiving cable programs, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a cable television subscriber residence having a system for controlling the operation of a television according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling the operation of a television, using a cable broadcasting network, at a typical subscriber residence according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a remote television control system, according to the present invention. The remote television control system of FIG. 1 is comprised of a head-end cable programming source facility (or CATV service center) 10, a cable network 12 and a plurality of subscriber residences 14 which include televisions 16. The CATV service center 10 receives a broadcasting wave, containing cable television programming, from a satellite or a ground station and then distributes the broadcasting wave through the cable network 12 to the multitude of subscriber residences 14. Typically, more than 50 channels are available and are received by the subscribers.

Satellite dishes 17 receive and can retransmit cable television programs to be viewed by cable subscribers in their residences 14. The CATV service center 10 processes the broadcasting waves received by the satellite dishes 17 and combines them with local programming 11 through a signal processing and combining circuitry as represented by block 15. The combined local and national cable programming is retransmitted to the subscriber residences 14 via a network of high speed cables 12. The cables may be a fiber optic ring or a coaxial cable or a combination there of. Additionally, an antenna 17 a may be employed to transmit the combined cable broadcasting signal to a distant neighborhood 16 a. The distant neighborhood 16 a has a receiving antenna 17 b for receiving the cable programming signal and rebroadcast the signal to the subscriber residences 14. Signal amplifiers 13 a are located along the cable network to ensure that an appropriate signal strength is maintained. Remote power stations 13 b are provided in the remote neighborhoods 16 a, 16 b, and 16 c to power the signal amplifiers 13 a. Of course, depending on the size of the neighborhood and distance from the CATV service center 10 more or less remote power stations 13 b and signal amplifiers 13 a will be required.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a subscriber television system is shown according to the present invention. The subscriber television system includes a television 16 having a remote controller 18 and a set-top box 20. The remote controller 18 typically contains an infrared transmitter which communicates with an infrared receiver 19 located in the television 16. Generally, remote controller device 18 includes commands to change channels, increase and decrease volume, turn off and on the television 16 and a variety of other television operation commands.

Television 16 is connected to set-top box 20 via a communication cable 26 which is typically a coaxial cable or the like. Further, television 16 has a power cable 28 which is also connected to the set-top box 20. Communication cable 26 transfers communication information such as cable programming from the set-top box 20 to the television 16. The communication information may be transmitted in the form of digital or analog waves depending on the television receiver used.

Television power cable 28 is connected to the set-top box 20 so that television power may be regulated remotely through the cable network 12. More specifically, a power down circuit 22 containing appropriate switches, interrupts the AC power transferred by power cord 30 to the television 16. The power down circuit 22 is configured to receive a signal through the cable network 12 when it is desired to power down the television 16. A power interrupt switch contained in the power down circuit 22 is remotely activated to disconnect electrical power from the television 16. Power cable 30 is connected to an AC power source 31 in the subscriber's home such as a conventional wall outlet. A detailed description of how the power down circuit is operated to carry out the present invention will be described below.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the set-top box 20 having a presence detection circuit or sensor 24 is illustrated. Sensor 24 can be an infrared, ultrasonic, or optical sensor. Sensor 24 is in electrical communication with the cable network 12 and is configured to send an output signal through the cable network 12 to the CATV service center 10 when a person occupying the room, in which the television 16 is located, leaves the room. An output signal indicative of an unoccupied room may then be used by the CATV service center 10 to remotely operate the television 16. For example, CATV service center 10 could send a signal to the power down circuit 22 to interrupt AC power to the television 16 for the purpose of conserving power consumption at the subscriber's residence. Other remote television control operations may include interrupting regular programming and displaying an alternate program such as scenery, or messages regarding the subscriber's cable television account may also be displayed. Further, the CATV service center 10 adapted to record and re-broadcast cable television programs could use the aforementioned system to record a cable program when sensor 24 indicates a viewer has left the room and then re-broadcast the cable program once the user has re-entered the room. A more detailed description of the operation of the television system just described will now be disclosed.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method for operating the television system just described is presented in accordance with the present invention. It is contemplated that the following method shown in FIG. 3 may be implemented through a computer program executed locally on the set-top box 20 or remotely at the CATV service center 10. When television 16 is energized, the program for remote control of the television system is started at block 40. At block 42, the presence of a television user is sensed. At block 44, a determination is made as to whether television users are present in the television room. If television users are present, the programming selected by the television users will continue without interruption as illustrated by block 46. If at block 44 it is determined that the television users are not present, the current regular programming will be suspended as illustrated by block 48.

The present method includes three modes of operation which may be selected by the viewer. Mode one allows the user to display alternate programming. Selecting mode two will cause the CATV service center 10 to record the current cable programming when the viewer has left the room. Finally, mode three will indicate to the CATV service center 10 that the viewer would like the television powered down at the point at which the viewer left the room. At block 50 the present invention determines whether mode one has been selected by the cable subscriber. If mode one has been selected by the cable subscriber, alternate programming data is sent to the television 16 as illustrated by block 52. The alternate programming may be a nature scene such as a waterfall or a campfire, or it may take the form of advertisements. The advertisements could be tailored to the particular cable subscriber's interests profile, etc. Additionally, messages could be sent by the CATV service center 10 regarding the cable subscriber's account status such as payment information or information regarding their Internet service, such as the cable subscriber's e-mail account. If the cable subscriber has an e-mail account with the company, the subscriber could be alerted of unread e-mail messages.

If mode one has not been selected, the present invention determines whether mode two has been selected as indicated by block 54. If mode two has been selected, the current channel and program the television is currently set to will be recorded as indicated by block 56. The recording may take place at the subscriber's site, if the subscriber's television system is so configured, or at the CATV service center 10.

If mode two has not been selected, the present invention determines whether mode three has been selected as shown by block 58. If mode three has been selected a signal is sent by the CATV service center 10 to activate the power down circuit 22 (shown in FIG. 2) located in the set-top box 20 to power down the television 16 as indicated by block 60. The power down circuit 22 temporarily disconnects the television set 16 from the electrical power source 31 thereby reducing power consumption at the subscriber residence 14. If mode three has not been selected, the present invention continues to monitor the presence of television users in the room. Furthermore, as indicated by the process arrows after each of blocks 52, 56 and 60 the presence of a user in the room will be monitored after each of the processes described in block 52, 56 and 60 are started as indicated by block 44. Once a user has returned to the room, regular programming, as shown in block 46, will be re-established.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method for controlling the operation of a television, the method comprising: receiving, at a device local to the television, input from a user indicating a selection of a mode of operation for the television when the user is not in proximity to the television, wherein the mode is user-selected from a plurality of different operation modes of the television; determining whether the user is in proximity to the television without requiring user interaction with the device local to the television or the television; transmitting the determination to a remote television programming service provider, wherein the determination indicates that the user is not in proximity to the television; and receiving from the remote television programming service provider a signal instructing the device to automatically operate the television according to the user-selected mode.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein operating the television according to the user-selected mode includes powering down the television.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein operating the television according to the user-selected mode includes recording a television program.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein operating the television according to the user-selected mode includes displaying alternate programming on the television.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein displaying alternate programming includes displaying an advertisement.
 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein displaying alternate programming includes displaying messages associated with the user.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the user is in proximity to the television includes using an infrared sensor for detecting a presence of the user in proximity to the television.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the user is in proximity to the television includes using an ultrasonic sensor for detecting a presence of the user in proximity to the television.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the user is in proximity to the television includes using an optical sensor for detecting a presence of the user in proximity to the television.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying current programming if the user is in proximity to the television.
 11. A system for controlling the operation of a television, the system comprising: a sensor for sensing a presence of a user in proximity to the television without requiring user interaction with any of the television and the system; a user input apparatus for receiving input from the user indicating a selection of a mode for operating the television when the user is not in proximity to the television, wherein the mode is user-selected from a plurality of different operation modes of the television; and a control circuit in communication with the sensor and the user input apparatus, wherein the control circuit is configured to: determine whether the user is in proximity to the television based on the first signal; transmit the determination to a remote television programming service provider; and receive a signal including instructions for automatically operating the television according to the user-selected mode in response to the transmission from the remote television programming service provider.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the control circuit includes a powering down circuit for powering down the television.
 13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a recording device for recording current programming.
 14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes an infrared sensor.
 15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.
 16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor.
 17. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a set-top box in communication with the control circuit.
 18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the user input apparatus includes a remote controller.
 19. A method for controlling the operation of a television using a network, the method comprising: receiving, at a device local to the television, input from a user indicating a selection of a mode for operating the television when the user is not in proximity to the television, wherein the mode is user selected from a plurality of different operation modes of the television; transmitting a first signal indicating the user-selected mode via the network to a remote television programming service provider; determining whether the user is in proximity to the television; transmitting a second signal indicating that the user is not in proximity to the television to the remote television programming service provider; and receiving a control signal via the network from the remote television programming service provider in response to the second signal, wherein the control signal includes instructions to automatically operate the television according to the user-selected mode.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the user-selected mode includes powering off the television.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the user-selected mode includes changing programming displayed on the television.
 22. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication of the user-selected mode to the remote television programming service. 